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Five years after making its debut in the operating room, the da Vinci Si Surgical System has become one of Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s most effective surgical tools.

The high-tech robot is being used for an increasing number of operations, from the single-site gallbladder surgery to the minimally invasive hysterectomy to the partial nephrectomy (an organ sparing procedure for kidney cancer patients). These single-site procedures are helpful in reducing incisions, easing recovery, and shortening hospital stays.

Beaufort Memorial is the only healthcare provider in Beaufort County that uses this advanced system. Using the latest generation da Vinci Si, surgeons are able to remove a patient’s gallbladder or uterus through a one-inch incision in the navel. Traditional laparoscopic surgery requires four small cuts in the abdomen. Compared to a traditional hysterectomy, a robot-assisted procedure is minimally invasive and helps women return to their normal activities more quickly. The surgery is performed in less than two hours. Many patients have the option to return home the same day, and nearly all go home within 24 hours.

Dr. Tolbert is one of BMH's surgeons who utilizes the da Vinci Surgical System for miminally-invasive procedures.

Improvements in the robot’s wristed instrumentation have enhanced surgical precision, control and stability. The upgraded system also features HD 3-D optics with 10 times the magnification providing better visualization of the operative field.

“With better instrumentation and visualization, we can perform more complex procedures with better outcomes,” says Stephen Sisco, MD, who was the first surgeon in the area to perform single-site surgeries. “As the technology continues to evolve, we’ll look at ways to expand its use.”